Still Life Flowers in Vase 1913

Maggie Laubser made this painting of flowers in a vase with oils, though we're not sure exactly when. I love how Laubser allows us to see the painting as a process. Thick strokes of blues and purples, dragged together with a brush heavy with paint, give the flowers their form. You can really feel the physicality of the medium here; the texture of the canvas and the paint itself seem almost palpable. Look at the stems of the flowers. See how she’s used these quick strokes of green to suggest the plant's liveliness? There's something so joyful about the way Laubser embraces the act of painting, reminding us that art is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. It puts me in mind of other painters, like Paula Modersohn-Becker. Like her, Laubser understands that art is about embracing ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own stories and interpretations to the canvas.